The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe signed a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for a land claim settlement in New York.

The agreement identifies about 4,800 acres that the tribe will be able to acquire from willing sellers. That land would become a part of the reservation.

“Our tribe and our people have worked toward this agreement for 32 years," Chief Beverly Cook said in a press release. "Our council is carrying the work from our past leaders forward; we’ve built on each other’s efforts, and we remain committed to a negotiated settlement that benefits our Mohawk people and our neighbors.”

Once the deal is finalized, the state will distribute some of the tribe's revenue sharing payments to local communities. But one affected county has yet to sign on to the agreement and two towns said they were locked out of negotiations.

The final land claim settlement will require approval from Congress, according to the state.

Get the Story:
Deal Worth Millions Reached In Mohawk Land Claims (WWNY 5/28)
Massena, Brasher town supervisors ‘beyond disappointment’ with Mohawk land claim deal (North Country Now 5/28)
Mohawks move toward resolving land claims (The Albany Times-Union 5/28)
St. Regis Mohawks Reach Accord On Buying Land (WAMC 5/28)
Mohawk tribe signs land claim memo with St. Lawrence County, state (Johnson Newspapers 5/29)
Mohawks reach deal to buy land, expand territory (AP 5/29)
St. Regis Mohawk land-claim deal on table (The Plattsburg Press-Republican 5/29)

Related Stories:
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe said to be close to land claim settlement (05/07)
Editorial: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe comes to table for land claim (07/11)
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe still hopeful for land claim settlement (7/10)
Judge dismisses most of St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's land claims (7/9)